Bompas & Parr Predicts the Future of Museums
Published 25 October 2023
According to British experiential design studio Bompas & Parr, the museums of the future will serve as community-centred spaces that nurture our perceptions of the past and hopes for the future. It unpacks this vision in its newly published The Future of P-Leisure Report 2024. We distil its most promising predictions.
1. Super-Optimised Spatial Storytelling: Bompas & Parr calls on museums to create compelling and thrilling storytelling experiences to delight and excite spectators. It envisions immersive ventures through museums using virtual reality (VR) headsets and all-encompassing digital installations.
2. The Ultimate Date Museum: The design studio hopes museums will become spaces to bolster more dynamic forms of togetherness, particularly for younger people: think cultural institutions actively encouraging discussions among visitors (à la installations that can verbally interact with audiences and large dining tables in museum cafés) and late-night guided group tours.
3. Rollercoaster Pedagogy: Bompas & Parr predicts high-speed routes between exhibition items. It suggests onsite travelators surrounded by projected information, and even drive-thru museums for time-strapped culture enthusiasts. The design studio also anticipates museum-cum-funfair experiences that infuse attractions like funhouses and helter-skelters with educational content.